Keselowski Gets First Victory In Trucks Event

Bob Keselowski, driving a Dodge Ram, outran a squadron of Ford F-150s and Chevrolet C-1500s to win the Virginia Is For Lovers 200 Craftsman Truck race at Richmond International Raceway.

It was the 46-year-old stock car veteran's first Craftsman victory in 59 career starts and only the second for Dodge and its Mopar Division in the 64-race history of the series. The Craftsman Series is NASCAR's only major group that features competition among all three of Detroit's manufacturers.

Keselowski led twice for 83 of the 200 laps. He took the lead for good by rooting past Jay Sauter at lap 171, then drove away to a three-second victory. Points-leader Jack Sprague was second, followed by Sauter, with veteran Rich Bickle ahead of rookie Kenny Irwin in a photo finish.

The back five in Round 20 of the 26-race schedule were Ken Schrader, Mike Bliss, Chuck Bown, Randy Tolsma and Butch Miller. Yorktown native Joe Gaita finished 21st, three laps down, after being the 32nd and last driver to qualify on time.

``I was hoping for a top-10,'' Keselowski said, ``but the truck handled great. The motor had adequate power, but the handling stayed right there all night.''

Ron Hornaday won the pole at a track record 121.726 mph, but didn't stay there long. Bliss went by at lap five, then Irwin, Joe Ruttman and Sprague lined up and pushed him back to fifth-place after 15 laps. Bliss led until Schrader passed him on lap 55.

The Winston Cup driver stayed ahead through the halfway break, leading Keselowski, Sauter, Sprague, Irwin, Bickle, Bown, Tolsma, Ruttman and Bryan Reffner into the five-minute service stop. Hornaday, 18th at the break, complained that his Chevrolet was too loose and asked for major chassis changes.

Hornaday promptly charged from 18th to 10th in the first 12 laps after the restart, then faded to a 16th-place finish, a lap down.

Schrader led until Keselowski passed at lap 103. Sauter, Sprague and Irwin passed a few laps later, bumping Schrader to fifth. A debris caution then evaporated Keselowski's two-second lead.

Sauter got by at lap 156, but Keselowski regained the lead for good at lap 171.